this Honda CB175 is still hogging the hydraulic bench and I need to fettle the bacon slicer for the DGR at the end of the month. The problem now is that the condenser (new looking) seems duff, bike spark at the points. I've see na lot on here about rubbish new condensers. Can one of the electrically enlightened members please tell me if it matters what particular replacement I get, will any 12 volt one do, does it have to be specifically for a twin etc?Many thanks.

Fitting isnt a problem as it just sits under a head bolt on the top of the cylinder head (8mm from memory) and there is only one. The one there at the moment looks very like one advertised on ebay for a Honda 125 which I assume is a single.

Absolutely Bob. Pure snobbery The engineering on the little Honda of the highest quality. So many of the design features knock any European, let alone British bike into a cocked hat. You just cannot fault them, even the handling stories are mainly down to bad riding by young tearaways such as me, in my opinion.

The only bike I've ever had fail an MOT was a Honda CG 125.It failed because of what the tester called "Body rot" The pressed steel rear mudguard/frame member was in places like a lace curtain. It was the wife's bike, she was not pleased.

Problem is not just soldering wires on but insulation because the operating volts can be around 450V (because of the coil primary). 1kV can jump 1mm in dry air, allow for some oil mist and it is lower, one of the reasons a condenser has a fat can, increased stand-off.

The condenser capacitor also has to be robust to take vibration, so its wires do not fall off. They're normally an electrolytic type, the polarity has to be the right way round.

If using an electronic capacitor instead of a normal condenser capacitor, there are some mechanical considerations, it has to be a bit over-engineered; this usually means using a higher voltage type.

My condenser failed on my loop, so I called into a little independent motor factor and bought whatever they had. It happened to be for a Mini in a Lucas box. Had to swap the connector but it bolted on to the side of the distributor OK, and is still there about a year on.

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